The band is almost back together. Following their five day bye week, the Rangers returned to practice at 4pm Thursday. Several injured faces were back in practice jerseys, a few of which should be in the lineup today against Toronto. Prior to the game, the Rangers will honor Steven McDonald, who passed away Tuesday.
First a few first half recap videos to get you in the mood to start the second half of the season:
We Are Rangerstown" NYR 2016-17 | First Half ajcastigliaa
With the return of Nash and Buch and upcoming one of Zib, there is now a logjam up front. Nash and Buch give New York, 13 healthy forwards, as Nicklas Jensen was sent back down after the win over Columbus. With the team looking to preserve as much cap space as possible, Marek Hrivik and Brandon Pirri each have a target on their back. Each have to pass through waivers to go to Hartford. Don't expect any move to be made until the team is confident that Nash is over both of his groin strains and Buch's core has strengthened to the point where it won't be a concern in the future.
With Nash and Buch back, the lineup could be:
Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello Nash-Pirri-Buchnevich Vesey-Hayes-Grabner Miller-Lindberg-Fast
That lineup presumes that Jesper Fast, who has lost eight pounds the last few days battling the flu is good to go. If not, he will be the one scratched, likely replaced on the fourth line by Hrivik with Pirri moving down and Miller or Lindberg up. If Fast can go, Hrivik or Pirri will be the healthy scratch. Putting Pirri on the second line gives him another chance to maintain his spot. In addition, don't want to breakup the first or third lines. So putting Pirri there allows for an easier transition when Zib returns, as he slots into that spot. AV could opt to put Miller there. If he does, then look for Pirri to sit and Hrivik to play on the fourth line. One other option is to move Lindberg, who has been very good, up to that second line. Then, Pirri likely centers the fourth line and Hrivik sits.
The other option, which is how they skated at practice, has Lindberg between Buchnevich and Nash while Hrivik centers Vesey and Pirri, presuming Fast is out. Zibanejad will likely take Lindberg’s spot with Lindberg in turn replacing Hrivik or Pirri with whoever is replaced scratched when the top 12 all are healthy. Zib and Buch had chemistry earlier in the year before Zib was sidelined. They were joined by Kreider, but given how good the current trio that includes Kreider has been, I wouldn't break them up unless required.
On defense, Marc Staal is now officially in the NHL concussion protocol. He is reportedly feeling a little better but did not practice Thursday and is nowhere near ready to return. That means the six d-men who played the two games before the break will go again. The combinations though are still to be seen. Against Columbus, due to the poor start to the game, AV took Brady Skjei off Ryan McDonagh's pairing, playing him with Nick Holden and moved Dan Girardi back to play with McDonagh. Kevin Klein was benched in the third and Adam Clendening rescued the Rangers.
Personally, I would go right back to the below. We have to see if McD-Skjei can remain as a pairing and be as good as we think they can be. Holden likely fits better with Clendening or Klein but I expect him to start with G. That leaves Clendening-Klein but I wouldn't be shocked if its Klein or Clendening with Holden, likely Klein, with Clendening with Girardi.
McDonagh-Skjei Holden-Girardi Clendening-Klein
Lundqvist will be between the pipes. It's possible he also goes Saturday due to the bye. But I also wouldn't be shocked if Antti Raanta got the nod.
Lines at the morning skate, likely the lines tonight:20-21-36: 40-13-10; 26-24-61, 89-73-19 So it's Lindberg with Vesey and Nash. Fast is playing with Pirri and Buch.
Defense pairs: 27-76: 22-5; 8-4
PP combinations: McDonagh, Pirri, Kreider, Step, Zucc. Clendening, Buch, Hayes, Vesey, Nash
Settle in, 40 games to go.